Lubricating apparatus for internal-combustion engines



Au 2 1927. g 1 c. c. BERG LUBRICATING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Nov.l5, 1924 2 Sheet-Sheet 1,

6412 rls 6.. 6; I}

INVENTOR ATTORW Aug; 2, 1927. 1,637,600

C. C. BERG LUBRICATING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL CQMBUSTI ON ENGINES Filed Now/.15, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pf r W I I [/LdrZes 6. fiery INVENTOR ATTOR Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITED STATES CHARLES C. BERG, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

I LUBRIOATING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed November 15, 1924. Serial No. 750,176.

.This invention relates to lubricating apparatus. for internal combustion engines and has for its principal object the provision of a sight feed lubricator for admitting lubri- 6 cant to the combustion chamber and cylinders of internal combustion engines, particularly such as are used in automobiles, aeroplanes and the like.

I have found that by introducing a relatively small quantity of vegetable oil to the manifold of an internal combustion engine that the lubrication of the moving parts located within the combustion portions of the engine, as for example, the pistons and valves, will be more thoroughly accomplished than in any other known, method,

and at the same time the mileage obtained 1 from a given amount of gasoline or other motor fuel can be increased. In addition, 0 the formation of carbon upon the cylinder and piston walls may be diminished, and carbon accumulated on such surfaces before the'use'of my lubricating apparatus may be gradually eliminated, While the formation 2 of carbon can not be completely avoided, the

lubricant keeps the carbon in a pliant pastelike condition and in that condition it' is.

partly carried out with the pistons, serving them as a graphitic lubricant and closing up leaks in worn piston'rings and partly discharged with exhaust gases through the ex-' haust pipe. These objects are accomplished by the use of the following apparatus for' feeding lubricating oil of low carbon content in predetermined quantities to the manifold of the engine.

' Reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments ofmy invention, and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is.- a detail perspective view showing my improved apparatus in position for 4 use with a standard internal combustion engine of the usual or any desired type having an intake manifold 6 leading from the carburetor 7 to the cylinders of the en gme. .An oil container 8 is mounted adjacent the engine, as by the bracket 9, secured upon the dashboard 10 of an automobile,

and is adapted to hold a relatively large amount of lubricating oil of low carbon content. Preferably I utilize vegetable oils of low fire test, such as castor, bean, olive, or highly refined cotton oils. As herein shown, the container 8 is formed of a glass cylinder 11 open at its ends and resting upon a gasket 12 fitting within the flanged bottom plate 13, which has a central threaded aperture therein for the reception of a hollow tube 14 adapted to thread within the central aperture of the bottom plate 13 and to receive'a nut 15 at its upper extremity adapted to press upon the flanged top plate 16 to hold it in firm engagement with the open upper end of the tube 1 1. A gasket 17 is preferably interposed between the upper edge of the tube 11 and the top plate 16. The hollow tube 14 is preferably formed with an elongated opening" from its lower extremity. to adjaoent its upper extremity, and then with a smaller threaded opening for the reception of the stem 18 of a needle valve, while intermediate the two openings 2. Wall 19 is arranged having a relatively small central aperture therein surmounted by an inclined seat for the needle valve. Opening into the tube 14 just above the said Wall 19 is a small feed pipe 20 arranged to extend substantially parallel "with the tube 14 and with its lower extremity closely adj acent the bottom plate 13, substantially as shown in Fig. 2. The lower extremity of the small feed pipe 20 is thus submerged in the lubricating oil until substantially all of the oil in the container has been used. The valve stem 18 preferably carries an index finger 21 co-operating with a. notched segment 22 arranged in the upper surface of the top plate 16, whereby comparatively small adjustments of the position of the needle valve relatively to its seat in the wall 19 of the tube 14 may be made and mamtained as long as desired. The bottom plate 13 is preferably formed with a depending central boss threaded to receive a nipple 23 whereby connection may be made to a flexible tube 24 leading from the oil container to the manifold 6 (see Fig. 1). The nipple 23' is preferably formed with an enlarged bottom plate 13 the ends of the cylinder 25 are firmly gripped between the boss and a shoulder formed on the nipple 23.

The operation of my improved oil feeding apparatus is believed to be -apparent.- The arrangement of the tube with its lower extremity in the oil and its upper ex:

tremity above the oil level provides a construction whereby the oil from the container will not enter the hollow tube 14 except when a vacuum isformed in such hollow tube. When, however, the engine is running, the suction exerted in the cylinders of the engine will form a vacuum in the tubing 24 andhollow tube 14 to lift the oil from the container through the small pipe 20.

The restricted aperture in the wall 19- within the hollow tube 14 prevents the free' flowing of this oil, and the. position of the needle valve relatively to its seat directly above such restrictedaperture also tends to hold back the, oil and permit its passage only in the desired quantity. In this way the pasage of the oil is regulated, and falls in drops from the restricted aperture in the 5 wall 19 past'the sight openings 27 in the nipple 23 into the tubing 24, whence they are drawn into the intake manifold 6 and commingle with the gasoline drawn from the carburetor. This atomizes the oil and distributes it to the various cylinders where it'comes into contact with the piston walls, valves, etc. By providing oil of low carbon content and low fire test, the oil is'not exploded but remains as a lubricant during- .and after the explosions in the cylinders.

- Moreover, by providing vegetable oils that y do not carbonize, I am enabled. to maintain the 011 in a heated and yet unchanged state thus able to soften any accumulated deposits of carbon upon the piston or'cylinder walls, whereby the softened carbon and oil maybe exhausted with the burnt gases on the exhaust stroke.

In addition, through the commingling of the vegetable oil with the combustible mixture, I am enabled to increase the mileage obtained ,from a given quantity of gasoline. This is accomplished because of the fact that more poweris' created because-of the softening influence of the oil upon the gasoline. Gasoline being a hard substance is softened by the admixture of the vegetable .oil to the pointthatthe atomization is made more complete, so that while a little loss occurs in the lowering of the gravity of the gasoline by its mixing with the oil, very much greater advantages are gained in reducing the friction of the atomized gasoline particular motor and kind of gasoline is obtained. The desired adjustment can then be maintained through the action of the index finger 21 in the graduatedsegment' 22. As soon as the engine stops running,- the suction exerted through the hollow tube 14 ceases, and no more oil is lifted through the small pipe 20. Accordingly, there is no accumulation of oil in or adjacent to the manifold while the engine is idle.

To aidin lifting the oil through the pipe 20 during the operation of the engine, I maintain atmospheric pressure within the container above the oil level through an opening 28 in an adjusting screw 29 mounted in the top plate 16. By arranging'this opening diagonally across the screw 29 the area of the opening may be' adjusted so as to prevent splashing while maintaining atmospheric pressure.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated a modified form of my oil feeding apparatus wherein the container 30, preferably of glass, is secured between a bottom plate 31 and top plate 32, a central tube 33 being threaded at its lower extremity into the bottom plate and carrying at its upper extremity a threaded elbow '34, the lower extremity of which it adapted to contact the top plate 32 and force it into close engagement with the upper extremity of the cylinder 30. Suitable gaskets are interposed between the edges of the cylinder 30 and the top and bottom plates to prevent leakage. A series of apertures 35 radiate from a-central boss in the bottom plate to the lower extremity of the tube 33 to admit oil to the interior of the tube. The elbow '34 is suitably connected to a valve 36 wherein a hollow stem 37 having a restricted aperture 38 at its lower extremity is threaded within the valve, and has a lateral opening 39 throughout a portion of its circumference to align with the: opening connecting with the elbow34, whereby the advent of the oil from the container to the valve stem 37 may be restricted by retatin the valve stem. A suitable handwhee 40 is arranged at the upper extremity of the valve stem and carries an index finger 41 adapted to register with graduations 42 one disc 43 atthe' upperextremit of the valve casing. The oiladmitted to t e.valve stem falls through the restricted aperture 43 into a. glass cylinder 44 mounted between brackets depending from the valvecasing, the lower bracket carries a threaded portion 45 whereby connection may be made with suitable flexible tubing to lead the oil to the manifold 6 of the engine.

The operation of this embodiment of my invention is substantially the same as that of the first mentioned embodiment. The suctionexerted through the manifold and 10 flexible tubing creates a vacuum in the hollow tube 33 to lift the oil from the container therethrough and into the valve stem 37, whence-it drops through the sight cylinder 44 into the flexible tubing, whence it is conl5 veyed to the manifold anddistributed as hereinbefore mentioned.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiments of my invention herein disclosed are well calculated to adequately fulfill the objects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjolned claims.

Having described my invention, I claim: I 1. Lubricating apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising an oil container, a hollow cylinder mounted centrally of the oil container and having an opening therein above the oil 'le'vel, a feed pipe having its upper extremity secured in sald opening in v the cylinder and its lower. extremity imhand.

mersed in the oil, tubing connecting the cylinder with the manifold of the engine, and means for restricting the flow of oil through the cylinder comprising a wall arranged in the cylinder below said opening and having a restricted aperture therein, whereby oil is evenly drawn through said restricted aperture whenever suction is exerted from the manifold of the engine.

2. Lubricating apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising an oil container, a hollow cylinder mounted centrally of the oil container and having an opening therein above the. oil level, a feed pipe having its upper extremity secured in said opening in the cylinder and its lower extremity immersed in the oil, tubing connecting the cylinder with the manifold of the engine,

means for restricting the flow of oil through the cylinder comprising a Wall arranged in the cylinder below said opening and. having .a restricted aperture therein, and a manually adjustable needle valve arranged to limit the area from the passage of, 011 to said restricted aperture, whereby oil is evenly drawn through said restricted aperture whenever suction is exerted from the manifold of the engine.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my n CHARLES C. BERG. 

